Dentist treatment and card payment charges

armydee

Yesterday I visited a new dentist. As usual I went for a normal check up only to be told I needed fillings. I have 3 questions which hopefully someone can answer.

1. I was told I needed to get 3 fillings, there are two types of fillings, silver or white. Obviously the dentist preferred the white ones which unbelievably cost £120 each. The others are covered under the NHS for £47. Although he told me the silver ones are slightly poisonous. Slightly worrying - how true is this?

2. He was reluctant to give my teeth a clean - I asked him about it and he said that cleaning under the NHS isn't covered, I told him I'm sure it was. I later checked this on the NHS Direct website and indeed a clean and polish is covered in the price of £17.00. What's the difference between this and a 'deep clean'?

3. When paying for the check up I gave my credit card and was told that there would be a 60 something pence charge. So I said I'd pay for it with a debit card and was told that there would be a 40 something pence charge. I understood why there would be a charge on credit card but on debit cards I enquired why.- I told her I'd never had this before - I was told it's company policy. My usual other NHS dentist has never charged me extra when paying by card. According to this link - which I can't post as this is my first post (it's the Dentist Forum NHS dental charges) - they can charge for credit card payments but nothing is said for debit card payments. Is this dentist taking me for a mug?

Any feedback on the above would be appreciated.

Thanks

Toothsmith

I would find a different dentist, and report the charging issues to the PCT.

The toxicity of amalgam has pages written about it, but probably the best thing to say here is that my last filling was done in amalgam, and the last filling I needed to do for my wife was done in amalgam (And I'm not planning to bump her off (yet)).

To all intents and purposes it is as safe as any other filling material we have. (The white ones have things that can be nasty too if given in big enough doses)

The safest most 'biocompatible' material we have is gold.

armydee

Thanks for your reply - the information you've given tallies with what a colleague of mine gave regarding the fillings.

Also I'm going to contact the West Kent Primary Care Trust and report the card charges.

I've had these silver fillings for the 3 teeth in question but they need new ones I think.

As you've suggested I'm going to go to a different dentist - does anyone know if I go to see them will I have to pay £17.00 again for a check up or can I go with the information I have from this dentist and get their recommendations?

Thanks.

brook2jack

You will have to pay £17 again. Different dentists can have different opinions as to whether teeth need filling or not, so each dentist does their own treatment plan.

armydee

Damn! Thought that would be the case.

welshdent

Just as an additional point and sorry if I got the whole point wrong ...
From what I am reading I wouldnt get in too much bother about how much he charges for fillings. Although he is wrong in saying a clean isnt available on the health service (if it is necessary). The prices quoted for white fillings are private and as such they can charge what they like. He MAY be advising inlays which would cost more. Certainly £120 sounds very high. I charge £60 for a large one. If it was so large that £120 was necessary then I would normally say the cavity is not suitable for a standard direct filling anyway. (Just MHO) )

What is WRONG is saying the fillings are poisonous if amalgam is used. That is highly misleading to say the least.

The charges for the CC machine I am not sure about tbh. You appear to have more info than me and I leave payments up to the girls on the desk here!